Tips for dementia-friendly group discussions and activities

We identified these tips from desktop research, our survey of  30 people with dementia and carers, and review of the resulting draft list by 12 more people with dementia. They included:

• Focus on Dementia Network Group for Hendon, Greater London
• a 3 Nations Dementia Working Group member in Shropshire
• Ladies Health Memories Activity Group, Peterborough
• people in Somerset, Manchester and London

Allow longer than for a group of people without dementia.

People with dementia may lose their train of thought and digress from answering the question. If this happens, gently steer the conversation back on track.

• 'we need to consider the question, you may have 10 people considering the question at different speeds'
• 'A break for a cup of tea is always welcome!' 

Consider discussion without carers present. 

• 'Groups etc should be individual to people with dementia and not mixed.'
• 'Preferably people living with dementia without carers present.'

Help people to find your activity

Use Dementia-Friendly signage so people don't get lost.

• 'Assist with directions to a building and around the building. Dementia friendly signs could be of help.'
• 'Provide dementia-friendly transport.'

Find out about the group before meeting them.

Use  Information about Me forms or one page profiles to help you plan.

• 'find out the number of people in the group as it's important to know what type of a group it will be, that is, big or small'.
• 'It's important to be clear about the issues that people have and the way they can best take part in a group. For example, some people would be happy to speak to the whole group while others may prefer speaking one-to-one or in small groups.'
• 'ask everybody if they want to speak as someone will not speak until asked but will have good ideas or questions. Don't assume people don't want to contribute if they don't speak up in a group..'

Consider using communication support cards.

• 'The people running the groups need to understand that some people may not be able to speak very well and others may not be able to write'.
• 'The cards are great!!!' ['Please speak slower', 'I would like to speak']
• We are all different and it’s not necessarily clear [to discussion facilitators at events] as to what we can and can’t, do, or understand.'
• 'We use post-it notes to jot things down'.
• 'communication cards may be more useful when dementia has progressed'.
• 'sorry but this feels patronising'.

Help people to maintain their focus during discussion

Have the question being discussed in writing in front of people, if they would like this.

Write key points on a flipchart as they come up, if people would like this. It can help people to avoid repeating themselves.

Use dementia-friendly documents - offered in advance.

• 'papers to prepare for the meeting should be sent out a minimum of 3 days in advance. Nothing new on the day.' 
• 'I would forget what I had read, I would rather have information on the day'.

Make it relaxed, not all hard concentration.

• 'Find a relaxed social setting, not a clinical room or an office.'
• 'Include activities such as singing, exercise and visiting speakers.'